Classic warning signs of a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction) include:
Explanation
Classic heart-attack signs are chest pressure or discomfort (often described as squeezing or heaviness), radiation to the left arm, jaw, neck, or back, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, and lightheadedness. Critically, women, diabetics, and elderly patients often present atypically — with fatigue, indigestion, or shortness of breath instead of classic chest pain — and these presentations are commonly missed. Call 911 immediately; chewable aspirin if conscious and not allergic. Right-side-only pain (a), isolated abdominal pain (c, possible but not classic), and bilateral vision loss (d, more suggestive of stroke) are less typical.
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